The OutPost http://blog.outdoorzy.com Outdoor News and Gear Reviews from the Edge Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:48:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 outdoorzyhttp://feedburner.google.com New Bike Design is Missing Chain…Comfort? http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/06/new-bike-design-is-missing-chain-comfort/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/06/new-bike-design-is-missing-chain-comfort/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:48:52 +0000 Emile http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2239 newbikeinsideThis new bike design from Jruiter Studios lacks a chain and probably a lot of comfort. It looks like you are sitting on a plank and pedal behind your body.
“Our project, simplicity in inner city bicycling, was at first glance a fun aesthetic opportunity in new trends, color, and materials. Our target lived / worked in an inner city environment with minimal space. Bicycling at this level can be more about fashion and culture than speed and performance.”
via geekologie

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/06/new-bike-design-is-missing-chain-comfort/feed/ 0 Tripbase.com Travel Upgrade Guide http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/05/upgrade-guide/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/05/upgrade-guide/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:41:09 +0000 Emile http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2231 Hotelreception2Tripbase.com shared with us their Ultimate Flight and Hotel Upgrade Guide, and it is worth a gander, especially if you like to try and get some perks while traveling without paying the moolah.

For flights:

  • Check-in early/late.
  • Use your title (Dr, Prof, anything VIP-ish).
  • Ask. This is perhaps the most important thing to do and in reality, perhaps the only method that will elicit some sort of beneficial response. Sometimes you can pay for an upgrade; sometimes (if you’re worthy) you can get put on an upgrade list. Very rarely will you ever get offered one out of the blue and for free.
  • Mention any special reasons for travelling.
  • Pay full price.
  • Be charming, polite, calm and flexible (same goes for hotels).

For hotels:

  • Be loyal (the same could be said for airlines, joining any loyalty schemes is a good way to get a foot in the door).
  • Book during conferences.
  • Pay full price.
  • Don’t be fussy. Too many demands will earn you the ire of hotel employees.
  • Stay short term.
  • Know the hotel.
  • Ask. Asking never hurt anyone. Maybe.

Be sure to check out their full guide for detailed explanations of their guide.

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/05/upgrade-guide/feed/ 0 2009 Nashville Oyster Adventure Race Recap http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/04/2009-nashville-oyster-adventure-race-recap/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/04/2009-nashville-oyster-adventure-race-recap/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:45:02 +0000 Wade http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2151 feral-merrell-squirrels

Feral Merrell Squirrels Team Members prepare to find Me out on the Course

On October 24th about 70 teams met at the Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville to begin an urban adventure race called the Oyster. My team, The Feral Merrell Squirrels, were on hand to try out luck at this 6 hour sprint through many of the cities landmarks. We knew we were in for a good time when we saw other team names on the roster like Dixie Kickers, Friday Doughnut, Smokin Spandex, Gas Passers, and Still Drunk.

The early morning held ominous clouds for the Merrell Oyster Adventure Race. We all fixed our eyes above as they moved quickly over the skyscrapers wondering if we were in for a miserable ride. The temperatures where cold early, but when the race began the clouds moved out and the temps started to go up. As many of you know, adventure races are not only a physical test but a test of our mental capabilities as well. The race director announced that our strongest runner come to the front and the other two team members should prepare to be on their bikes. I was elected our “strong runner” and was herded onto a greyhound bus. Once on the bus all the runners were asked to put a Merrell backpack over their heads. We  were then driven several miles away from the transition area and dropped off. I had no clue where we were, but they gave us a laminated card telling us to go to the City Cemetery to meet our team mates. I know the danger of following other teams in a race like this, but literally everyone took off in the same direction. Who was I to argue.

This race differed from most I’ve been in. We were allowed to use maps, gps, public buses, and even use our cell phones to “phone a friend.” Sounds like it should be a snap then huh? The problem here is that what seems like a huge advantage to the racers is diminished since many of the checkpoints are given to you in riddles. Figuring out what the clue actually meant was often the hard part.

Racer Grant Green and others reach in

Racer Grant Green and others reach in

After meeting my team mates we were together the remainder of the day. It was tough running the 2 miles back downtown with the other two on bikes…. “c’mon man, what’s taking you so long.”

oyster-adventure-race-float

Running 3 miles with a pool float in high winds is harder than it looks

Throughout the race we biked and ran approximately 27 miles. On top of those activities we also canoed, swam in the Cumberland River on a pool float, blind taste tested beers, in line skated, golfed, took pictures with graves, visited monuments, chipped golf balls, answered trivia questions, visited a VW bus hot dog stand, and generally freaked out the locals and tourists tooling around the downtown area.

The sponsors were great and included big dogs like Native Eyewear, Clif Bar, Dechutes Brewery, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and of course the main sponsor and our team sponsor who makes this series happen, Merrell.We placed 6th in the Men’s division, but the race is more of a “challenge” than a race for many of the participants. It was a blast calling our friends and screaming riddles into the phone… Us,  “Where is the asphalt beach?!… Where is it! Hurry! I’m in a race!”  (pause)  Friend, “What the F— are you talking about?”

feral-merrell-squirrels-mascot

Feral Merrell Squirrels & our support crew chief

–Images  provided by RachelleMorvant.com. Rachelle is a professional photographer and a highly reccomended race photographer with a strong portfolio.

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/04/2009-nashville-oyster-adventure-race-recap/feed/ 2 It’s a Web Surfing Tuesday http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/03/its-a-web-surfing-tuesday/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/03/its-a-web-surfing-tuesday/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:59:31 +0000 Wade http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2187 Today’s interesting asides from the world of outdoor sports, adventure travel, and oddities…

Sleep in a Space Hotel… in 2012

Driving a Land Cruiser around the Earth

Look it’s a Biner, No it’s a pulley, No it’s a Revolver!

American wins the NY Marathon… for the first time in 27 years

100 Best Adventure Towns… Nashville? Valdosta?

portland

This cartoon is via The Piton… they only post something like once a month, but when they do it’s f’in awesome!

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/03/its-a-web-surfing-tuesday/feed/ 0 Merrell Patina Athletic Pants http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/02/merrell-patina-athletic-pants/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/02/merrell-patina-athletic-pants/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:09 +0000 Elizabeth http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2152 I would live in yoga clothes if I could, so I’m always on the look out for really good yoga pants; what I mean by good is pants which stretch and give easily, fit well around the waist, are breathable, and can double for running, biking, or going grocery shopping:)

I found the Merrell Patina pants are perfect for all of the above!

Merrell Patina Pants

Merrell Patina Pants


Three things really set the Merrell Patina pants apart for me:

1) a really wide waist band with extra fabric which is doubled up

–I like this because some yoga pants will pull downward and I have found myself readjusting my pants while I’m supposed to be obtaining inner peace and tranquility. Not to mention when I’m teaching yoga the last thing my students need is to be distracted by their teacher tugging at her clothes!

2) a small pocket with a protective flap centered on the back waist band

–this pocket is perfect for running because an Mp3 player would fit snuggle into the pocket, or a car key or even a small food/Gue pack

3)  the Merrell Patina pants are super trendy

–I love the design; the seams on the back of the pants add a nice contour that I haven’t seen on other yoga pants. They run down from the back of the waist band to the heel which flatters any shape.

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/11/02/merrell-patina-athletic-pants/feed/ 0 REI and Arbor Call for Artists for the 2010 Snowboard Design Contest http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/30/rei-and-arbor-call-for-artists-for-the-2010-snowboard-design-contest/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/30/rei-and-arbor-call-for-artists-for-the-2010-snowboard-design-contest/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:50:41 +0000 Emile http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2141 snowinsideREI is sponsoring a pretty sweet snowboard design contest, check out the press release below.

REI, a national retailer providing quality outdoor gear and clothing, and Arbor, a collective of artists, designers and friends who snowboard, skateboard and surf, kick-start the snow season with a “call for artists” to submit designs for the REI and Arbor 2010 snowboard design contest.

This free contest is open to artists of all skill levels, and contest rules are posted at www.rei.com/arbor-contest. One winning design will be picked and featured in Arbor’s 2010 – 2011 snowboard lineup and sold exclusively at REI. The winning designer will also receive a snowboard featuring their design and a $1,000 REI gift card. Four runners-up will each receive a $500 gift card.

“REI and Arbor’s values both focus around being earth friendly, while ensuring people have fun playing outdoors,” says Tom Vogl, vice president of REI Marketing. “We’re thrilled to provide an online forum for the outdoor community to discover artistic talents and get each other fired up about getting on the snow.”

Entries will be accepted from Nov. 2, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2009. As soon as artists have submitted their artwork, people may vote for their favorites by clicking on a “thumbs-up” or “thumbs-down” icon www.rei.com/arbor-contest. On Jan. 10, 2010, the top five artists who receive the most votes will go to the final round, where Arbor and REI judges will choose one grand-prize winner based on creativity, artistic translation of the artwork into snowboard graphics, and quality. The winner and runners-up will be announced on Jan. 15, 2010.

“Over the years we have turned to the art community to help keep Arbor’s eco-centric message relevant within the snowboard community,” says Bob Carlson, Arbor co-founder. “This contest will allow us to expand these efforts and open up our process to aspiring artists around the country.”

Carlson adds, “With the winning design, we will create a snowboard that combines an amazing level of design, performance, and style with the work of an up-and-coming artist and Arbor’s eco-technologies.”

Arbor remains focused on finding solutions for a more sustainable future through a blend of art, technology, and eco-materials. The company’s creatively rich line of quality snowboards, skateboards and apparel can be found on www.rei.com.

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/30/rei-and-arbor-call-for-artists-for-the-2010-snowboard-design-contest/feed/ 0 Mike Rowe and Lamb Castration http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/29/mike-rowe-and-lamb-castration/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/29/mike-rowe-and-lamb-castration/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:13:49 +0000 Emile http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2135 This may not be hugely outdoorzy, but it is very entertaining and inspiring. It is Mike Rowe, from Discovery’s Dirty Jobs, speaking at a conference talking about his experience with lamb castration. Mike checks with multiple sources on the correct way to castrate lambs, which is with a rubber band placed on the testicles, and eventually the testicles fall off. That is not how this dirty job was done…at all.

Mike then goes into talking about notions about work that he got wrong. Such things as these people with dirty jobs are much much happier than we with our 9 to 5’s are. I highly recommend taking 20 minutes and watching this, especially if you are at a corporate job that you don’t particularly like.


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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/29/mike-rowe-and-lamb-castration/feed/ 0 America’s Best Hikes http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/28/americas-best-hikes/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/28/americas-best-hikes/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:15:24 +0000 Emile http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2128 hikeinsideMSNBC.com has a list of America’s best hikes all with varying degree’s of difficulty. Of course they were inspired, as we all were, to make the list by the Ken Burns documentary on PBS. Their list goes all the way from Pipiwai Trail, Maui to the Presidential Traverse, New Hampshire and everywhere in between. Be sure to check out their full list.

via MSNBC.com

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/28/americas-best-hikes/feed/ 1 Toenails are for Losers http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/27/toenails-are-for-losers/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/27/toenails-are-for-losers/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:10:16 +0000 Emile http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2120 toenailinsideMany ultramarathoners lack what a lot of us already have. Yes common sense, but also, as of late, toenails. According to a NY Times article toenail removal is becoming a trend of these die hard runners.

Toenail removal is not for the faint of heart, but it can be a big relief to people who compete in 50- or 100-mile races. Even the most hardened ultramarathoners, for whom 26.2 miles is a warm-up, can be distressed by bleeding under a nail or a loose nail that bangs repeatedly against the front of a shoe.

“From my experience, it’s the hard-cores” who choose to go without toenails, said Dr. Paul R. Langer, a Minneapolis podiatrist who has been on the medical team for a 250-kilometer 7-day race through the Gobi Desert. “Even within the ultra community, less than 10 percent or maybe even 5 percent are permanently removing their toenails.”

Ok we all get it, you guys are EXTREME!!!! I think maybe they should try running the 100 miles without shoes, that would be impressive.

image from the NY Times

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]]> http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/27/toenails-are-for-losers/feed/ 1 16 Year Old Starts Solo Circumnavigation http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/26/16-year-old-starts-solo-circumnavigation/ http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2009/10/26/16-year-old-starts-solo-circumnavigation/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:53:09 +0000 Emile http://blog.outdoorzy.com/?p=2113 jessinsideHey remember what you were doing at 16. Guess what…whatever it was was stupid. The only thing you circumnavigated at that age was the inside of the toilet with your face by the seniors in your high school. Dang you were such a loser.

Jessica Watson started her solo circumnavigation of the world by sailboat last week. The 16 year old set out from Sydney, Australia for the 10 month trip. Her 33 foot yacht goes by the name Ella’s Pink Lady. Jessica is keeping everyone updated via her blog, be sure to check it out and support this youngster, we sure are!

via The Adventure Blog

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